Church takes XXXX brewery to court over fears of liquid explosion
By Cloe Read and Sean Parnell
Expansion plans for the XXXX brewery in Milton are under a cloud after the Anglican Church mounted a legal challenge against Brisbane City Council’s development approval.
In February, council approved a plan to build three 40,000-litre ethanol storage tanks on site, to allow for more beverages other than beer to be produced.
The XXXX brewery at Milton wants to produce more drinks that aren’t beer.
The brewery, run by global beverages giant Lion, made the application in a bid to grow its market with more seltzers and other ready-to-drink brands, in response to consumer demand.
But the church, which owns property to the west of the brewery, has taken the decision to the Planning and Environment Court, citing concerns including air quality and a risk to public safety.
In documents filed with the court, the Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane argued the development should be refused on several grounds.
It said there was “substantial risk” to public safety, property and the environment, as the plan involved the transfer and storage of up to 120,000 litres of ethanol, a class 3 flammable liquid.
The XXXX brewery in Milton borders land owned by the Anglican Church.
The liquid would be close to homes and community facilities, and could damage properties beyond the brewery, including those of the church, the documents claim. Emissions would also be released from venting the tanks only 14 metres above ground.
The church land is home to St Francis Theological College, which has operated since 1936 and trains students to become Anglican priests. The site also contains two state and local heritage-listed places, according to the documents.
The church wants the court to find the council was wrong to approve the storage of such flammable liquid “approximately eight metres from the nearest residential building and approximately 19 metres from the college library”.
The church told the court that other potential sites for ethanol storage at Milton would be a safer distance from neighbours.
In 2022, at the time the development application was made, Lion’s Queensland sales director, Patrick Donohue, told Brisbane Times mass production of the seltzer brands required bulk ethanol storage.
He said the alcohol market had continued to evolve and as such, it was important for the brewery to be innovative.
Lion and the council have yet to respond to the appeal.